DART Newsletter
December 2025
Greetings DART Members,
A few months ago, an aid worker asked me how he could best prepare to serve with Samaritan's Purse. What education did he need? What certifications or qualifications? What experiences? He's not the only one who has asked. And while there are excellent trainings and credentials that strengthen our team, my answer to him was simple: the most important qualifier is faithfulness to the Lord.
- Faithful in his personal walk with Christ.
- Faithful in his home—loving and leading his spouse and children well.
- Faithful in his local church.
I hold myself to this same standard. The best way to serve your neighbor in crisis is to be a faithful follower of Jesus in the ordinary integrity of daily life.
May God sustain us daily with His grace to be faithful to Him.
Aaron Ashoff, Deputy Director of International Projects
Jamaica Response
Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica with catastrophic force, producing recorded wind speeds up to 252 mph, damaging nearly 145,000 structures, and causing significant loss of life. Entire communities were isolated as roads, bridges, and communication networks were destroyed across the island. The Disaster Assistance Response Team launched a large-scale, multi-sector operation to reach the hardest hit and most inaccessible regions. A key component of this effort was the first-ever deployment of our Air Response Team. Helicopter capability enabled rapid access to remote communities, allowing teams to conduct immediate needs assessments and deliver critical relief supplies—shelter materials, solar lights, kitchen kits, hygiene supplies—into locations unreachable by road. In all, 155 air missions were conducted.
The hospital in Black River sustained major structural damage. We deployed a 50-bed Emergency Field Hospital to ensure continuity of medical care across the southern region. In parallel, mobile medical units and clinic resupply kits were sent to communities whose clinics were destroyed or rendered non-operational.
Our response also included significant water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions. With many homes losing roofs—and with them their rainwater harvesting capacity—families were left without dependable access to safe drinking water. Four FreshSpring filtration units and one SeaSpring reverse osmosis system were deployed, restoring access to clean water in communities whose traditional household rain catchment systems had been destroyed.
Coordination with local partners further strengthened the impact of the response. The Operation Christmas Child network of churches supported the distribution of relief items and provided spiritual encouragement within their communities. The North American Disaster Relief team deployed roofing specialists to support shelter recovery through tarp installation and temporary roof stabilization. Additionally, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association chaplains offered emotional and spiritual care alongside medical teams and distribution staff. These unified efforts demonstrated a comprehensive Samaritan's Purse response—meeting physical, emotional, and spiritual needs while pointing survivors to the hope found in Jesus Christ.
Marburg Outbreak In Ethiopia
On Nov. 14, the Ethiopia Ministry of Health confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Jinka, located in the South Omo region. This is the first time that a confirmed outbreak of Marburg has been reported in Ethiopia. Currently, there are no approved therapeutics or vaccines for MVD. Five DART training staff are currently on the ground supporting a World Medical Mission partner hospital. The team is providing Marburg preparedness and prevention training, advising on screening criteria for patients and staff, strengthening infection prevention control practices, and advising on the design and preparation of an isolation area in anticipation of any suspected Marburg cases.
Upcoming Trainings
- DART General Orientation: Feb. 9–14, Blowing Rock and North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
- POST Logistics Training: Feb.23–27, Blowing Rock, North Carolina
- Air Response Team Training: March 9–13, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
”Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year
The International Disaster Response Unit
